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Monday, August 13, 2012

Pressured To Shine by Martin Wiles

Series: Perfected By PressureLeashing up the dog and grabbing a flashlight is a nightly ritual before I go to bed.

Our yard has no outside light, so a flashlight is essential during warm months. Its light prevents me from stepping on snakes and fire ant beds and also helps me see nocturnal creatures that often lurk in our backyard. While not a weapon, I’m more relaxed walking in the dark with a flashlight.

While traveling, Jesus and his disciples encounter a man born blind. Expressing the common misconception, they ask Jesus whose sin caused this situation, the man’s or his parents. But Jesus answered; “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins….This happened so the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:3 NLT).

The man’s condition had nothing to do with sin but everything to do with shining light on God’s strength. Hardships can result from sin, but difficulties aren’t automatically a sign of mistakes. God allowed the man’s blindness for a purpose greater than his misery. This unprecedented miracle revealed God’s power over the human body.

Our pressures are designed to reflect God’s power, not our ingenuity to deal with or eliminate them. Pressures properly faced reflect God’s control and goodness.

Unexplainable physical cures, unexpected financial rescues, healings of relationships deemed unsalvageable, joyful expressions when in constant pain and giving to God even when there’s no groceries in the cupboard are all examples of our belief God will sustain and deliver us no matter how dreary our circumstances appear.